Kembla Grange mare Callistemon scored a well deserved win in last Saturday’s Midway Handicap (1600m) at Randwick, following three successive third placings to begin her campaign.
Jockey Jason Collett settled the mare midfield before taking her to the outside to make her run as they approached the home turn.
Given clear galloping room the $3.40 favourite finished the race  off strongly to win by a length from Forecaster with topweight Hellfire Express a half-length further away in third place.
“When she found that position and was left alone it was like watching trackwork really,” said trainer Kerry Parker.
“She finished the race off strongly. You knew she was going to extend when she got to the outside.
“The mare was due for one. She’s been racing so well all preparation. She’s turned up every start.
“I’m thrilled for the owner, Pip Warner. I’ve never actually met her. She’s a retired lady who breeds a couple which, fortunately for me, have ended up at our place.
“There have been plenty of tears when this mare has been held up plenty of times so it was terrific to see her get her chance and put them away today.
“Hopefully the handicapper is kind to her and we can get another Midway with her.”
The win took Callistemon’s record  to three wins and seven placings from 21 starts, yielding $196,075 in prizemoney.
Shortest way home
Saturday’s 1200-metre Class 3 TAB Highway Handicap saw jockey Mikayla Weir take full advantage of barrier one in piloting three-year-old filly Calico Miss to victory for Armidale-based trainer Stirling Osmond.
Weir never left the fence on Calico Miss ($4.60), who defied the challenge of $2.80 favourite Exit Fee to win by a half-length with Satin Stiletto a nose away in third place.
The filly has now recorded three wins and a second from four starts.
“She’s always shown us plenty of ability and drawing one was nice for her,” Osmond said.
“She was always going to fall into a good spot right on the back of the leaders and they were nice enough to give us a run up the fence near the top of the straight.
“She’s got plenty of attitude and I think she brings that on race day and that makes her a nice horse.”
Weir, who’s partnered Calico Miss in all four starts, is also a fan.
“She’s only lightly raced and had a bit of a setback as a young horse so that’s why it was a long time between her trials and when she kicked off but I think she’ll keep progressing,” Weir said.
Around the traps
Gavin Groth’s Gunnedah gelding Norman was the toast of Talmoi last Saturday after taking the Talmoi Picnic Cup (1400m) under Paul Zefara.
Zara Lewis rode the first three winners on the six-race program in the state’s north while Quirindi trainer Geoff O’Brien led in three winners.
Still on Saturday, local trainer Mitchell Beer led in a winning double at Kembla Grange while apprentice Brock Ryan rode two winners.
The previous afternoon at Coffs Harbour, jockeys Luke Rolls and Raymond Spokes fared best of the jockeys with a double apiece.
Both Spokes’s winners were trained locally by Brett Bellamy.
In the second race of the day, the 1205-metre two-year-old handicap, Issy’s Star couldn’t have been more impressive in careering away to win by six lengths under Kyle Wilson-Taylor.
The filly, who was having just her second start, is from the powerful Kris Lees stable and starting a $2.10.
It’s worth noting. as we’re now in winter, that the track was rated a heavy 8, which suggests that it could pay to follow this Frosted filly in the weeks ahead.
 At Wagga on Sunday, the $50,000 Super Maiden (1400m) went to the Anthony Warren-trained Canberra four-year-old Badhatharry ($11), ridden by Jeff Penza.
In the Wagga Stayers Series heat (2000m) the Ben Brisbourne-trained Victorian raider First Day ($7) romped away to a 5¼-length win under Milos Bunjevac.
Bunjevic went on to win the following race, the 1000-metre Wagga Winter Sprint aboard Big Day Out ($31) for another Wangaratta trainer, Craig Weeding.
Coming attractions
This Friday sees the Showcase action head to Tamworth, where an eight-race program features a $50,000 Super Maiden to be run over 1400 metres. To the south of the state, the Moruya Jockey Club will stage an eight race meeting, while Saturday sees six races at Gundagai.
On Sunday, the action is at Coffs Harbour and Dubbo. At Coffs Harbour the feature is the 1500-metre Sawtell Cup while at Dubbo the Winter Country Classic Final (1300m) and a $50,000 Super Maiden (1100m) top the bill.
Holly good idea
Congratulations to Tamworth trainer Holly Williams on the initiative she’s running at her home track’s meeting this Friday, promoting not only her stable but the meeting as a whole.
Williams has invited all her owners to watch their horses race from tables she has booked at the club’s upstairs venue.
Client loyalty is an important factor in any business.
In this case Williams is not just marketing her own business but the industry in which she participates.